Yes, this is our exposition chapter, now that you've been caught up to speed. Hopefully, it's still entertaining and I can entice you back by dangling hopes of intrigue in later chapters in front of your faces.
A Cat's Tale
By: Catty Engles Reporter for the Daily Gazette
Edition Tenth: Three Strikes
I hustle the Titans out the maintenance entrance after making a detour to Tina's desk and grabbing the tickets. We find Charlie already standing by the limo door. I snatch the slowly smoking cigarette out of his mouth and crush it beneath my heel. "You know I don't like those."
"Aw, but Miz Cat," His bald plate shimmers in the evening sun as he jokes with me snidely. "They're filter. Ain't doing me any 'arm."
"Tar is tar, it belongs on asphalt not in your lungs." I really wish Charlie would kick the habit. He doesn't drink on a matter of principal, but my limo driver is not as young as he used to be and I don't want to lose a friend in this twisted world.
"File in there." Charlie doesn't, to his credit, seem overly surprised by my company. I mentally thank him.
I just need one final shot at getting him to quit, "Charlie, think about the little woman!"
"She smokes three packs a day and is still going strong but you've nagged me down to one. Holy palooza Miz Cat you'll give yourself an ulcer before you can drive." He snickers and stows himself in the driver's seat, revving the engine unnecessarily.
I find myself nuzzled between Cyborg and Beastboy. Starfire is already interrogating Robin about "the baseball." On the way up I carefully broach the subject of poster sales, T-shirt inventories, and a new clothing line featuring Raven. She seems to be the only one to pick up on my subliminal business, which is actually being filed away in my brain for later revenue.
"A new clothing line? Don't I already have one?"
"Raven, you have one T-shirt, that's nickel and dime stuff. You've got this whole Gothic following who would jump at a chance to wear your face on anything." I'm wheedling I know, but the one T-shirt sold out in record time.
Raven slouches and crosses her arms, "Goths are just an easy way for ugly people to look more interesting."
I wait for my brain to supply an answer, but it realizes it's a joke. That startles a chuckle out of me. I wasn't expecting jokes, especially from her. Most of the trip is filled by happy banter, and Beastboy's rapturous cries as he descends upon the mini-fridge.
"Pick us up around nine, Charlie?" I ask as the Titans walk towards the ticket counter.
"Of course, Miz Cat, y'old Tiger." I slap the limo affectionately as Charlie pulls away. Tiger, It's my street name. The newspapers gobbled it up that I went by Cat. I don't know if I can take anymore puns.
"Oh ... boy." I exhale sharply. The Titans have been swamped. Cyborg is being bombarded with little kids wearing caps and baseball gloves. Starfire is being pressed hard by squealing girls for an autograph. Seems some of the boys are pretty keen to get one as well. Beastboy and Raven are back to back as Beastboy laughs and jokes, working the crowd and Raven rolls her eyes, point-blank refusing to sign anything. But of all of them, Robin has been positively mobbed.
In a swirl of pink, he goes under. The girls close in tight, giggling, crying, and screaming. This isn't the normal enemy that one can punch and kick, but one that would like no more than to kiss him to death. I smirk. I'm going to a baseball game with five superheroes and it's Catty to the rescue.
"ALRIGHT!" I wave my arms wildly. The fangirls' screams taper off into bewildered gurgles. Silence for a nanosecond. That's all I need. "Press conference! I can't believe you've forgotten again!" I roll my eyes dramatically for effect. "Okay, move along. We're already late." A lie, but an effective one as it turns out.
Grumbles and last ditch efforts for an autograph commence immediately. Somehow I get the Titans through the maintenance entrance and up to our suite.
The little room overlooks the field from above all the rest of the seats. Beastboy dives for the mini-bar ("Score!") as the rest of us wander throughout, admiring the view. Starfire drops down on a green leather couch next to the wall and Cyborg tinkers with the TV. Raven snatches a magazine off of the coffee table and commences to read about life threatening brain tumors. Robin finds the sliding door's clasp and steps out onto the balcony overlooking the field.
I follow him out, the strange heavy feeling in my stomach when the two of us are alone already forming. Absently, he watches the pitchers from both teams warming up.
"So-" I start, not really wanting to break the silence but too nervous not to.
"Do you have any idea how to explain to Starfire the concept of innings?" He asks.
"No, but good luck with that one." I lean on the guardrail, cocking my head to the side.
He turns his back to the field, draping both of his arms over the edge. I can see his chest rising and falling and hear the soft whisper of his breath. God, he's gorgeous. A comfortable silence passes between us and the pleasant rumble of the crowd fills in the awkward gaps. I've always thought a true friend is one that silence can pass unquestioned with.
He smiles at me, "Catty, do you-"
"Catty Engles?" I look up at my full name. A man is standing on the balcony of the suite left of ours. His sandy blond hair falls into his shocking blue eyes. He smiles, and there is a sharp contrast between his perfectly white teeth and sun-bronzed face. I've met him before. He, like me, has made lots of money very quickly, and in the same business. Strange, I never thought of that. I'm currently in negotiation with him over new titanic (pun completely intended) ventures. His name is Ashley Chamberlain. A girly name, I know, but that is the extent of the feminine in him. He positively reeks masculinity. "Catty, you must have a drink with me, as business partners. Your client may come as well."
Robin's relaxed attitude is gone. His muscles are tense and he's regarding Ashley with jealousy. No, I won't flatter myself. It's a mixture of caution and calculation. Not an attitude that screams tea-time.
"Uh, Robin, this is Ashley. I'm sorry Mr. Chamberlain, I don't believe my friend will be joining us, but I will be happy to." Keep the deal on the line and then get away as quickly as possible.
Robin remains stoic and impassive as I step past him. I give the tiniest of nods as he turns to leave, hoping I left him assured. I'm a big tough babe anyway. Grrl power and all that.
I step between the barrier separating us and have to squeeze past Ashley in the tight confines. In close quarters, I notice he even smells manly. Tiny prickles run up and down my spine. My breath quickens though my chest tightens. Sweat slicks my palms and I feel my body reacting to Ashley though my mind is still firmly on Robin. Ashley gently leads me into his suite with his big and sensual hand behind my elbow.
He can't be human. No one can look this good. They'd explode, or something.
Bodyguards lounge against the wall. They seem to be straight out of a gang, big, muscular, and tattooed. Both of them are wearing dark sunglasses and a ring to each sausage roll finger. Ashley gives them a meaningful look. "We'll wait outside." Growls one of the guards. He flicks his head in the direction of the door and the other man follows, grumbling.
"Ah, so-" Ashley sits me down on the identical leather green couch to the one in my suite and finds a glass, "Beer?"
"I'm only fifteen."
"Ah, well, wine then." Not to quick on the uptake, is he? And who brings wine to a baseball game?
"Water, please." He nods and gets up to fetch it. I watch him as he goes. He is most definitely a man. He has the build and mesmerizing voice of one. I find myself comparing Robin to Ashley, the boy to the man, and realize I prefer the former. I inescapably prefer the former.
"So Miss Engles-"
"Catty, please."
"Catty." He smiles and licks his lips like he has just eaten a tantalizing sweet. "Funny how we both came to the same place at the same time."
"Just a coincidence I suppose."
"A coincidence, maybe." He pauses, "Have you read Joseph Campbell?"
"What a fraud."
His laugh is an explosion of merriment and he pats my knee approvingly. I smile slightly and lift the glass to my lips, wishing I was back with the Titans.
"A fraud? Oh, Catty, you do not believe in fate?" He's still smiling but not wholly.
"I believe that we possess something stronger called free will. Our choice of action cancels out fate, or destiny for that matter."
"So it does. Are you familiar with J.M. Barrie, Stephen King?"
"Peter Pan, The Shining. What do those have to do with fate?"
"Everything." He pats my knee again, eyes glittering, as I drain my glass. "A refill?"
"No, I must go. I have guests. Thank you though."
"No, Catty," Catching my hand in his, he pauses and that look passes over his face again, "Thank you."
As I move towards the door I can feel his eyes boring into me, sending shivers up my back. What was that all about? I'm still thinking about it when the sliding glass door to our suite clicks behind my back.
"Oh Catty, where were you?" Starfire hovers over my shoulder.
"With Ashley." Robin says from a corner. His eyes don't leave the game.
"A chick?" Beastboy looks up from, oh Lordy, they've managed to set up Gamestation in front of the TV.
"No, a man. A very nice man by his looks." Raven drawls over her magazine.
"Ow ow, go Catty!" Beastboy's eyes have returned to the game but his hundred-watt smile is blinding.
"Hey, hey," Cyborg calls, another controller in his hands. "Let's curb the cat-calls here."
Beastboy seems to think this is hilarious and keels over laughing. "What was the objective of your talk?" Starfire inquires guilelessly over the racket of Beastboy's twitters.
"Oh, she was just catting around." Cyborg smiles as I glare daggers at him over Beastboy's redoubled, gleefully convulsing body.
"It was strange. He didn't really want to discuss anything important." I say to Starfire.
"Sounds like a game of cat-and-mouse to me!" Beastboy says while laughing on the floor.
"Will you guys put a sock in it, I'm trying to read." Raven says over her magazine.
"Yeah, Beastboy stop your caterwauling."
"You stop caterwauling first!" He says indignantly from the floor.
"Copy-cat." Grumbles Cyborg, and that gets Beastboy laughing again. Raven rolls her eyes and decides to take the passive action and stay seated.
"Who is he exactly?" Asks Robin, ignoring Cyborg and Beastboy.
"He's another big-shot in the marketing division. Got plenty of power plenty fast. Now he's laying back and taking it slow. A regular fat cat. Oh no." But it's too late. My slip up has Beastboy's laughter escalating to the point of deafening.
A coaster slams into the back of his head, and his laughter stops immediately, "Hey! Wha-?"
I'm not sure, but a moment ago I would have sworn that marble coaster was surrounded by black magic. If it was, I'm certainly not telling.
"Who did tha-" Beastboy begins irately.
"Somehow I don't think that man takes many friendly drinks with employers or employees." Robin seems more interested in the talk now. You can almost see the wheels whirring in his head.
"No, he doesn't." I assure him.
"It could be a catastrophe!" shrills Starfire from the air. She looks expectantly at Beastboy.
"Oh man, you totally ruined it." Beastboy slumps like a little kid back to the floor and resets the Gamestation. Starfire looks confused and not just little bit hurt.
"You know, we're at a baseball game. Come join the three dimensional people." I snap at Beastboy, provoked by Starfire's unaffectedly pouting face.
Beastboy sticks out his tongue, redoubling his efforts at Gamestation.
"I do not understa-" Starfire begins.
"It's nothing, Star." Robin smiles distractedly.
Starfire and I follow him with our eyes as he reclaims his place by the window.
Keystone: Intelligent yet funny you say? YES! That's exactly what I'm going for! That review kept me smiling all day. Grammar? I'm just nitpicky like that and am the unofficial editor for all my friends' stories which heightens the expectations I have for my own. Meh. Count on you to notice Tina's figure (.). I'm very happy that you laughed; it is my intention, non?
All American: Yeah, Carly, whatever. Little sisters and their obsessions. Love you mucho! MWAH!
RobinRox13: SWEET!
Grumbumble: Catty's character? My view on life is about all that is mine that went into her, but considering that's a big part of her character... She's kind of the result of a (one time only) Mary Sue paranoia. Meh. Thanks for thinking I must be like her though! I do love writing her and probably will continue to, though like I said, this might get Catty heavy and maybe even go into third person. Meh meh. Oh, honeybunches, Robin/Catty is just the first stop on the roller coaster of love. By the end, we'll be playing the blues on Catty's heartstrings.